New Heterocyclic bridged biphenyls

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates electroluminescent devices, comprising a compound of the formula (I), especially as host for phosphorescent compounds. The hosts may function with phosphorescent materials to provide improved efficiency, stability, manufacturability, or spectral characteristics of electroluminescent devices.

The present invention relates electroluminescent devices, comprising a compound of the formula

especially as host for phosphorescent compounds. The hosts may function with phosphorescent materials to provide improved efficiency, stability, manufacturability, or spectral characteristics of electroluminescent devices.

JP9013025 relates to an electroluminescent element a quinoxaline derivative represented by the formula

wherein X is a C₂-C₅alkyl or the like; and R₁ to R₈, which are independent of each other, are each H, a halogen, a C₁-C₆alkyl or the like.

JP11251063 discloses triphenylene compounds expressed by the formula

which are used as a component material of an organic EL element. In the formula, R₁ to R₁₂ each independently represent an hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocycle group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl group, or a carboxyl group. R₁ to R₁₂ may form two rings out of them.

JP2006143845 relates to compounds of formula

wherein Z₁, Z₂ are an aromatic hydrocarbon ring, aromatic heterocyclic ring; R₁ to R₃ are H, substituent; n1=0 to 3; n2, n3=0 to 4; L1=linkage group, single bond).

JP2134644 relates to an electrophotographic sensitive body having a phenazine compound in a photosensitive layer. The phenazine compound is expressed by formula

wherein each R₁-R₄ is an H atom, a (substituted)alkyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group, or heterocyclic group, wherein R₁ and R₂, and R₃ and R₄ may form a 5-7 membered ring together with an N atom, respectively; each R₅-R₇ is an H atom, (substituted)alkyl group, alkoxy group, halogen atom or nitro group.

US20060289882 relates to an organic electroluminescent device, wherein the electron extracting layer may be formed of a hexaazatriphenylene derivative represented by the following structural formula

wherein R represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 10, an alkyloxy group having a carbon number of 1 to 10, a dialkylamine group having a carbon number of 1 to 10, F, Cl, Br, I or CN.

US20070029927 discloses aromatic amine derivative represented by the following general formula (1):

wherein Ar₁ to Ar₄ each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 30 ring carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group having 5 to 30 ring carbon atoms; L₁ and L₂ each independently represents a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 30 ring carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylene group having 5 to 30 ring carbon atoms; when both L₁ and L₂ are single bonds, however, a case where both Ar₁ and Ar₃ each represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group and further, where both Ar₂ and Ar₄ each represents a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group is excluded; R represents a substituent and when R exists two or more, they may bond each other to form a ring; and n represents an integer of 0 to 8 and their use in organic electroluminescence devices.

JP2134644 relates to phenazine compounds of formula

wherein each of R₁-R₄ is an H atom, a (substituted)alkyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group, or heterocyclic group, wherein R₁ and R₂, and R₃ and R₄ may form a 5-7 membered ring together with an N atom, respectively; each of R₅-R₇ is an H atom, (substituted)alkyl group, alkoxy group, halogen atom or nitro group. When the phenazine compounds are incorporated into a photosensitive layer of an electrophotographic sensitive body.

JP2000323278 relates to an emitter including an organic phosphor having an imidazole structure of the formula

wherein R₁ may be either same or different respectively and selected from hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, etc., X₁ is a bonding unit and selected from a substituted or non-substituted aromatic ring, heterocycle, a saturated fat chain, etc., Y₁ is selected from a single bond or a combination of either of single bond, an alkyl chain, an alkylene chain, an ether chain, etc., and Ar is selected from a substituted or non-substituted aromatic ring, heterocycle, etc. and z expresses a natural number. The organic phosphor is preferably a light emitting material having a guest material doped in a host material.

JP 2001023777 describes compounds of the formula

wherein R₁ to R₉ represent bonding, hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylether group, an aryl thioether group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, halogen, a cyano group, an aldehyde group, a carbonyl group, an ester group, a carbamoyl group, an amino group, a nitro group, a silyl group, a siloxyanyl group, and ring structure formed between adjacent substituting groups, and Z₁ represents oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or saturated hydrocarbon. The compounds having a phenanthroazole skeleton are suitable as a host material or a dopant material in a material of a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and a luminescent layer. No compounds, wherein any of R₁ to R₉ is an aryl substituted amino group are disclosed.

JP2001118683 relates to a luminescent element, wherein the luminescent material is at least composed of a guest material and a host material and the peak of the emission spectrum of the host material is more than 300 nm and less than 460 nm. The following phenanthroazole compound is explicitly disclosed:

JP2002050473 describes an element, in which a light emitting substance exists between a positive electrode and a negative electrode and which emits light by electric energy, and the element contains at least one kind of product formed by a photoreaction. The following phenanthroazole compound is explicitly disclosed:

JP2003059670 describes a light-emitting element having a structure in which at least a positive electrode, a luminous layer, an electron carrier layer, and a negative electrode are laminated in order, the electron carrier layer has an ionization potential 0.1 eV or more larger than the ionization potential of the luminous layer, and the material that mainly constitutes the luminous layer and the electron carrier layer is made of an organic compound having sublimation performance, and further, the organic compound that mainly constitutes the electron carrier layer has a molecular weight of 400 or more and a glass transition temperature of 90° C. or more. The following phenanthroazole compound is explicitly disclosed:

JP2002367786 describes a luminous element having a sequentially laminated structure of at least a positive electrode, a luminous layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer and a negative electrode, the relation between the luminous layer and the electron transport layer is (Ip(ETL)-Ip(EML))>(Ea(ETL)-Ea(EML)). The main material composing the luminous layer and the electron transport layer is made of an organic compound with sublimatic nature, and the main material composing the electron transport layer is an organic compound with molecular mass of not less than 400. [Ea: electron affinity (eV), Ip: ionization potential (eV), EML: luminous layer, and ETL: electron transport layer]. The following phenanthroazole compound is explicitly disclosed:

Notwithstanding these developments, there remains a need for EL devices comprising new host materials, and especially hosts that will function with phosphorescent materials to provide improved efficiency, stability, manufacturability, or spectral characteristics of electroluminescent devices.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an EL device, comprising a compound of the formula

wherein A is a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heteroaromatic ring, containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, especially one nitrogen atom and at least one further heteroatom selected from nitrogen, substituted nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur,

Z¹ is

—NA¹A^(1′), —P(═O)A⁴A^(4′), or —SiA⁶A⁷A⁸, Z² is

—NA²A^(2′), 2-P(═O)A⁵A^(5′), or —SiA^(6′)A^(7′)A^(8′),

Ar and Ar′ are independently of each other C₆-C₁₄aryl, such as phenyl, or naphthyl, which may optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from C₁-C₂₅alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by —O—, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, or an organic substituent, or R¹ and R², R⁴ and R⁶, R² and R³, R⁵ and R³ and/or R⁵ and R⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form an aromatic, or heteroaromatic ring, or ring system, which can optionally be substituted, R⁷ is an organic substituent, wherein two or more substituents R⁷ in the same molecule may have different meanings, or can form together an aromatic, or heteroaromatic ring, or ring system, and x is 0, or an integer of 1 to 5; A¹, A², A¹ and A^(2′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or a group

wherein BU is a bridging unit, such as

A³ and A^(3′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or A¹ and A^(1′) or A² and A^(2′) or A³ and A^(3′) together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heteroaromatic ring, or ring system, such as

m′ is 0, 1, or 2; A⁴, A^(4′), A⁶, A⁷, A⁸, A², A^(2′), A⁵, A^(5′), A^(6′), A^(7′), and A^(8′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, R⁴¹ can be the same or different at each occurence and is Cl, F, CN, NR⁴⁵R^(45′), a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₂₅alkoxy group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR⁴⁵—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, or two or more groups R⁴¹ form a ring system; R⁴⁵ and R^(45′) are independently of each other H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR^(45″)—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or, —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, and R^(45″) is H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, or a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, m can be the same or different at each occurence and is 0, 1, 2, or 3, especially 0, 1, or 2, very especially 0 or 1.

In addition, the present invention relates to compounds of the formula

A, Z¹, Z², R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and x are as defined in claim 1, with the proviso that phenazine compounds expressed by formula

are excluded, wherein each R₁-R₄ is an H atom, a (substituted)alkyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group, or heterocyclic group, wherein R₁ and R₂, and R₃ and R₄ may form a 5-7 membered ring together with an N atom, respectively; each R₅-R₇ is an H atom, (substituted)alkyl group, alkoxy group, halogen atom or nitro group.

The compounds of formula I can be used in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), especially as hosts for phosphorescent compounds. Accordingly, the present invention also provides an electroluminescent device comprising a cathode, an anode, and therebetween a light emitting layer containing a host material and a phosphorescent light-emitting material wherein the host material is a compound of formula I.

Examples of Z¹ and Z² are

wherein R²⁰⁰ is C₁-C₂₅alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by —O—, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy;

wherein R¹¹⁶ and R¹¹⁷ are as defined below. Z¹ is preferably a group

or —NA¹A^(1′). Z² is preferably a group

or —NA²A^(2′). Z¹ and Z² may be different, but are preferably the same.

A is a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heteroaromatic ring, containing one heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, which can be substituted and/or can be part of a fused aromatic or heteroaromatic ring system. Non-limiting examples of A are:

wherein R⁷ has the meaning of R⁸, R^(8″) has the meaning of R⁸, X is O, S, N—R¹⁷, wherein R²⁰⁵, R²⁰⁶R²⁰⁷, R²⁰⁸R²⁰⁹, R²¹⁰, R⁸, R⁹, R^(8′), R^(9′), R¹⁰ and R¹⁷ are as defined below, p is 0, 1, 2, or 3 and the dotted line - - - indicates the bonding to the benzene ring.

Preferably, the compound of formula I is a compound according of formula:

R¹ and R⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently of each other H, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R⁸ and R⁹ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, or R⁸ and R⁹ together form a group

wherein R^(206′), R^(208′), R²⁰⁵, R²⁰⁶, R²⁰⁷, R²⁰⁸, R²⁰⁹ and R²¹⁰ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R¹⁰ is H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or —CO—R²⁸, R^(8′) and R^(9′) are independently of each other H, CN, —COOR²⁷; —CONR²⁵R²⁶, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸; R¹¹ and R¹⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are independently of each other H, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN or —CO—R²⁸, X is O, S, or NR¹⁷, wherein R¹⁷ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, which are substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or two substituents R¹ and R², R⁴ and R⁶, R¹¹ and R¹², and/or R¹⁴ and R¹⁶, R² and R³, R⁵ and R⁶, R¹² and R¹³, and/or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

or two substituents R¹⁵ and R¹³, and/or R⁵ and R³, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

wherein X³ is O, S, C(R¹¹⁹)(R¹²⁰), or NR¹⁷, wherein R¹⁷ is as defined above, R¹⁰⁵, R¹⁰⁶, R¹⁰⁷, R¹⁰⁸, R^(106′) and R^(108′) are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a group of formula ═CR¹²¹R¹²², wherein R¹²¹ and R¹²² are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a five or six membered ring, which optionally can be substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or —C(═O)—R¹²⁷, and R¹²⁷ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, D is —CO—; —COO—; —S—; —SO—; —SO₂—; —O—; —NR²⁵—; —Si R³⁰R³¹—; —POR³²; —CR²³═CR²⁴; or —C≡C—; and E is —OR²⁹; —SR²⁹; —NR²⁵R²⁶; —COR²⁸; —COOR²⁷; —CONR²⁵R²⁶; —CN; or halogen; G is E, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, wherein R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵ and R²⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or R²⁵ and R²⁶ together form a five or six membered ring, R²⁷ and R²³ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R²⁹ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R³⁰ and R³¹ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, and R³² is C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, and A¹, A², A¹ and A^(2′) are as defined above.

Preferably, R¹¹⁶ and R¹¹⁷ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₂alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, 2-methylbutyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, or n-heptyl, C₁-C₁₂alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, such as —CH₂OCH₃, —CH₂OCH₂CH₃, —CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, or —CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₃, C₆-C₁₄aryl, such as phenyl, naphthyl, or biphenylyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, such as cyclohexyl, C₆-C₁₄aryl which is substituted by G, such as —C₆H₄OCH₃, —C₆H₄OCH₂CH₃, —C₆H₃(OCH₃)₂, or —C₆H₃(OCH₂CH₃)₂, —C₆H₄—CH₃, —C₆H₃(CH₃)₂, —C₆H₂(CH₃)₃, or —C₆H₄tBu.

X is O, S, or NR¹⁷. In case of compounds of formula XII and XVIII X is preferably O, or NR¹⁷. In case of compounds of formula XIII and XIX X is preferably S, or NR¹⁷.

R²⁵ and R²⁶ together form a five or six membered ring, in particular

R²⁹ is C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention is directed to an EL device comprising compounds of formula

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, A¹, A^(1′), A², A^(2′), R²⁰⁵, R²⁰⁶, R²⁰⁷, and R²⁰⁸ are as defined above.

In an especially preferred embodiment the present invention is directed to an EL device comprising compounds of formula

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, A¹, A^(1′), A², A^(2′), R³ and R⁹ are as defined above.

A¹, A², A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other especially phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, biphenylyl, 2-fluorenyl, phenanthryl, or perylenyl, which can optionally be substituted, such as R¹⁷ is preferably H, C₁-C₁₂alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, 2-methylbutyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-heptyl, or C₆-C₁₄aryl, such as phenyl, naphthyl, or biphenylyl.

Preferably, R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₂alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, hexyl, octyl, or 2-ethyl-hexyl, C₁-C₁₂alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, such as —CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)_(w)OCH₃, w=1, 2, 3, or 4, C₆-C₁₄aryl, such as phenyl, naphthyl, or biphenylyl, C₆-C₁₄aryl which is substituted by G, such as —C₆H₄OCH₃, —C₆H₄OCH₂CH₃, —C₆H₃(OCH₃)₂, —C₆H₃(OCH₂CH₃)₂, —C₆H₄—CH₃, —C₆H₃(CH₃)₂, —C₆H₂(CH₃)₃, or —C₆H₄tBu, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a 4 to 8 membered ring, especially a 5 or 6 membered ring, such as cyclohexyl, or cyclopentyl, which can optionally be substituted by C₁-C₈alkyl.

D is preferably —CO—, —COO—, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂—, —O—, —NR²⁵—, wherein R²⁵ is C₁-C₁₂alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, or sec-butyl, or C₆-C₁₄aryl, such as phenyl, naphthyl, or biphenylyl.

E is preferably —OR²⁹; —SR²⁹; —NR²⁵R²⁵; —COR²⁸; —COOR²⁷; —CONR²⁵R²⁵; or —CN; wherein R²⁵, R²⁷, R²³ and R²⁹ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₂alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, hexyl, octyl, or 2-ethyl-hexyl, or C₆-C₁₄aryl, such as phenyl, naphthyl, or biphenylyl, which may optionally be substituted.

G has the same preferences as E, or is C₁-C₁₈alkyl, especially C₁-C₁₂alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, hexyl, octyl, or 2-ethyl-hexyl.

Compounds of the formula X, XI and XII are preferred.

Compounds of the formula X, or XII are even more preferred, wherein R¹ and R⁴ are hydrogen,

R², R³R⁵ and R⁶ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or a group —X²—R¹³, R⁸ and R⁹ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, which may optionally be substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁₋₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D; C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, or a group —X²—R¹³; or two substituents R² and R³ and/or R⁵ and R⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

or two substituents R⁵ and R³, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

wherein R¹⁰⁵, R¹⁰⁶, R¹⁰⁷ and —R¹⁰⁸ are independently of each other H, or C₁-C₈alkyl, or R⁸ and R⁹ together form a group

wherein R²⁰⁵, R²⁰⁶, R²⁰⁷, R²⁰, R²⁰⁹ and R²¹⁰ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, R¹⁰ is H, C₆-C₁₈aryl, which can be substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈heteroaryl, which can be substituted by G, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or a group —X²—R¹⁸, wherein X² is a spacer, such as C₆-C₁₂aryl, or C₆-C₁₂heteroaryl, especially phenyl, or naphthyl, which can be substituted one more, especially one to two times with C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, and R¹³ is H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, or —NR²⁵R²⁶; D is —CO—; —COO—; —S—; —SO—; —SO₂—; —O—; —NR²⁵—; —CR²³═CR²⁴—; or —C≡C—; wherein R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵ and R²⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₈alkyl, or C₁-C₈alkoxy; C₁-C₈alkyl; or C₁-C₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, or R²⁵ and R²⁶ together form a five or six membered ring.

In a further preferred embodiment the present invention relates to compounds of formula

wherein R¹⁰ is H, C₆-C₁₈aryl, which can be substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈heteroaryl, which can be substituted by G, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or a group —X²—R¹⁸, wherein X² is a spacer, such as C₆-C₁₂aryl, or C₆-C₁₂heteroaryl, especially phenyl, or naphthyl, which can be substituted one more, especially one to two times with C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, and R¹³ is H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, or —NR²⁵R²⁶—; R¹¹ and R¹⁴ are hydrogen, R¹², R¹³R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are hydrogen, R¹⁷ is C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or two substituents R⁵ and R³, R¹² and R¹³ and/or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

or two substituents R¹⁵ and R¹³, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

wherein R¹⁰⁵, R¹⁰⁶, R¹⁰⁷ and R¹⁰⁸ are independently of each other H, or C₁-C₈alkyl,

D is —S—; —O—; or —NR²⁵—;

E is —OR²⁹; —SR²⁹; —NR²⁵R²⁶; —CN; or F; G is E, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, wherein R²⁵ and R²⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₈alkyl, or C₁-C₈alkoxy; C₁-C₈alkyl; or C₁-C₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, or

or A¹ and A^(1′) or A² and A^(2′) together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heteroaromatic ring, or ring system, such as

m′ is 0, 1, or 2; m can be the same or different at each occurence and is 0, 1, 2, or 3, especially 0, 1, or 2, very especially 0 or 1; R⁴¹ can be the same or different at each occurence and is Cl, F, CN, N(R⁴⁵)₂, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₂₅alkoxy group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR⁴⁵—, —O—, —S—, or —C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, or two or more groups R⁴¹ form a ring system; R⁴⁵ is H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR^(45″)—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or, —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, and R^(45″) is H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, or a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, R¹¹⁶, R¹¹⁷ and R¹¹⁷ are independently of each other H, halogen, —CN, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, —C(═O)—R¹²⁷, —C(═O)OR¹²⁷, or —C(═O)NR¹²⁷R¹²⁶, or substituents R¹¹⁶, R¹¹⁷ and R^(117′), which are adjacent to each other, can form a ring, R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a group of formula ═CR¹²¹R¹²², wherein R¹²¹ and R¹²² are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a five or six membered ring, which optionally can be substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or —C(═O)—R¹²⁷, and R¹²⁶ and R¹²⁷ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, D is —CO—, —COO—, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂—, —O—, —NR⁶⁵—, —SiR⁷⁰R⁷¹—, —POR⁷²—CR⁶³═CR⁶⁴, or —C≡C—, and E is —OR⁶⁹, —SR⁶⁹, —NR⁶⁵R⁶⁶, —COR⁶⁸, —COOR⁶⁷—CONR⁶⁵R⁶⁶—CN, or halogen, G is E, or C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R⁶³, R⁶⁴, R⁶⁵ and R⁶⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or R⁶⁵ and R⁶⁶ together form a five or six membered ring, R⁶⁷ and R⁶³ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R⁶⁹ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, and R⁷² is C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or A¹, A², A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other a group

wherein BU is

wherein R⁴¹ and m are as defined above.

Examples of

Examples of groups

are shown below:

wherein R⁴¹, R¹¹⁶, R¹¹⁷, R¹¹⁹, R¹²⁰ and m are as defined above.

Compounds of the formula

are preferred, wherein R⁸ and R⁹ are independently of each other

R¹⁷ is R⁸, or a group

R¹⁰ is R⁸, or a group

R^(17′) is R¹⁷, or a group

wherein n₁ is 0, or an integer 1, 2, 3, or 4, n₂ is 0, or an integer 1, 2, or 3, n₃ is 0, or an integer 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, R¹⁰¹, R¹⁰² and R¹⁰³ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by —O—, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy; Z¹ and Z² are as defined above and are preferably independently of each other

very especially a group of formula

m′ is 0, 1, or 2, —NA¹A^(1′), or a group

wherein A¹, A^(1′), A³ and A^(3′) are independently of each other

R¹¹⁶ and R¹¹⁷ are independently of each other C₁-C₂₅alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by —O—, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy;

Bu is

wherein R⁴¹ can be the same or different at each occurence and is C₁-C₂₅alkyl, which may optionally be interrupted by —O—, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy; n is 0, 1, or 2.

In another embodiment of the present invention EL devices are preferred, comprising compounds of formula

wherein Z¹ and Z² are as defined above.

Examples of particularly preferred compounds are shown below:

The compounds of the formula I, wherein Z¹ and Z² are independently of each other —NA¹A^(1′), or

can, for example, be prepared according to a process, which comprises reacting a compound of formula

wherein X¹⁰ stands for halogen, such as bromo or iodo, preferably iodo, with a compound of formula HNA¹A^(1′), or

in the presence of a base, such as sodium hydride, potassium carbonate, or sodium carbonate, and a catalyst, such as copper (0) or copper (I) (such as copper, copper-bronze, copper bromide iodide, or copper bromide) in a solvent, such as toluene, dimethyl formamide, or dimethyl sulfoxide, wherein R⁷, x, m′, A, A¹, A^(1′), R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁴¹ and m are as defined above. This reaction, referred to as an Ullmann condensation, is described by Yamamoto & Kurata, Chem. and Industry, 737-738 (1981), J. Mater. Chem. 14 (2004) 2516, H. B. Goodbrand et al., J. Org. Chem. 64 (1999) 670 and k. D. Belfield et al., J. Org. Chem. 65 (2000) 4475 using copper as catalyst. Additionally palladium catalysts can be used for the coupling of aryl halogen compounds with amines, as described in M. D. Charles et al., Organic Lett. 7 (2005) 3965, A. F. Littke et. al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 41 (2002) 4176 and literature cited therein.

The compounds of formula XX are known from WO06/097419, or PCT/EP2007/056702, or can be prepared according, or in analogy to the methods described therein.

The compounds, wherein Z¹ and Z² are a group

can be prepared according to P. A. Vecchi et al., Org. Lett. 8 (2006) 4211-4214.

The compounds, wherein Z¹ and Z² are a group

can be prepared according to example IV of US2005/0175857.

Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

C₁-C₂₅alkyl is typically linear or branched, where possible. Examples are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylpentyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylhexyl, 1,1,3,3,5,5-hexamethylhexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl, 1-methylheptyl, 3-methylheptyl, n-octyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, heneicosyl, docosyl, tetracosyl or pentacosyl. C₁-C₈alkyl is typically methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-pentyl, 2-pentyl, 3-pentyl, 2,2-dimethyl-propyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl and 2-ethylhexyl. C₁-C₄alkyl is typically methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec.-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl.

C₁-C₂₅alkoxy groups are straight-chain or branched alkoxy groups, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, amyloxy, isoamyloxy or tert-amyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, isooctyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, undecyloxy, dodecyloxy, tetradecyloxy, pentadecyloxy, hexadecyloxy, heptadecyloxy and octadecyloxy. Examples of C₁-C₈alkoxy are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec.-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert.-butoxy, n-pentyloxy, 2-pentyloxy, 3-pentyloxy, 2,2-dimethylpropoxy, n-hexyloxy, n-heptyloxy, n-octyloxy, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutoxy and 2-ethylhexyloxy, preferably C₁-C₄alkoxy such as typically methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, sec.-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert.-butoxy. The term “alkylthio group” means the same groups as the alkoxy groups, except that the oxygen atom of the ether linkage is replaced by a sulfur atom.

C₂-C₂₅alkenyl groups are straight-chain or branched alkenyl groups, such as e.g. vinyl, allyl, methallyl, isopropenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, isobutenyl, n-penta-2,4-dienyl, 3-methyl-but-2-enyl, n-oct-2-enyl, n-dodec-2-enyl, isododecenyl, n-dodec-2-enyl or n-octadec-4-enyl.

C₂₋₂₄alkynyl is straight-chain or branched and preferably C₂₋₈alkynyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, such as, for example, ethynyl, 1-propyn-3-yl, 1-butyn-4-yl, 1-pentyn-5-yl, 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-yl, 1,4-pentadiyn-3-yl, 1,3-pentadiyn-5-yl, 1-hexyn-6-yl, cis-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1-yl, trans-3-methyl-2-penten-4-yn-1-yl, 1,3-hexadiyn-5-yl, 1-octyn-8-yl, 1-nonyn-9-yl, 1-decyn-10-yl, or 1-tetracosyn-24-yl.

C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, especially C₁-C₄ perfluoroalkyl, is a branched or unbranched radical such as for example —CF₃, —CF₂CF₃, —CF₂CF₂CF₃, —CF(CF₃)₂, —(CF₂)₃CF₃, and —C(CF₃)₃.

The terms “haloalkyl, haloalkenyl and haloalkynyl” mean groups given by partially or wholly substituting the above-mentioned alkyl group, alkenyl group and alkynyl group with halogen, such as trifluoromethyl etc. The “aldehyde group, ketone group, ester group, carbamoyl group and amino group” include those substituted by an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or a heterocyclic group, wherein the alkyl group, the cycloalkyl group, the aryl group, the aralkyl group and the heterocyclic group may be unsubstituted or substituted. The term “silyl group” means a group of formula —SiR⁶²R⁶³R⁶⁴, wherein R⁶², R⁶³ and R⁶⁴ are independently of each other a C₁-C₈alkyl group, in particular a C₁-C₄ alkyl group, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group or a C₇-C₁₂aralkyl group, such as a trimethylsilyl group. The term “siloxanyl group” means a group of formula —O—SiR⁶²R⁶³R⁶⁴, wherein R⁶², R⁶³ and R⁶⁴ are as defined above, such as a trimethylsiloxanyl group.

The term “cycloalkyl group” is typically C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, cycloundecyl, cyclododecyl, preferably cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, or cyclooctyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. The term “cycloalkenyl group” means an unsaturated alicyclic hydrocarbon group containing one or more double bonds, such as cyclopentenyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexenyl and the like, which may be unsubstituted or substituted. The cycloalkyl group, in particular a cyclohexyl group, can be condensed one or two times by phenyl which can be substituted one to three times with C₁-C₄-alkyl, halogen and cyano. Examples of such condensed cyclohexyl groups are:

in particular

wherein R⁵¹, R⁵², R⁵³, R⁵⁴, R⁵⁵ and

R⁵⁶ are independently of each other C₁-C₈-alkyl, C₁-C₈-alkoxy, halogen and cyano, in particular hydrogen.

Aryl is usually C₆-C₃₀aryl, preferably C₆-C₂₄aryl, which optionally can be substituted, such as, for example, phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, naphthyl, especially 1-naphthyl, or 2-naphthyl, biphenylyl, terphenylyl, pyrenyl, 2- or 9-fluorenyl, phenanthryl, anthryl, tetracyl, pentacyl, hexacyl, or quaderphenylyl, which may be unsubstituted or substituted.

The term “aralkyl group” is typically C₇-C₂₄aralkyl, such as benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, ω-phenyl-butyl, ω,ωdimethyl-ω-phenyl-butyl, ω-phenyl-dodecyl, ω-phenyl-octadecyl, ω-phenyl-eicosyl or ω-phenyl-docosyl, preferably C₇-C₁₈aralkyl such as benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, ω-phenyl-butyl, ω,ω-dimethyl-ω-phenyl-butyl, ω-phenyl-dodecyl or ω-phenyl-octadecyl, and particularly preferred C₇-C₁₂aralkyl such as benzyl, 2-benzyl-2-propyl, β-phenyl-ethyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl, ω-phenyl-butyl, or ω,ω-dimethyl-ωphenyl-butyl, in which both the aliphatic hydrocarbon group and aromatic hydrocarbon group may be unsubstituted or substituted.

The term “aryl ether group” is typically a C₆₋₂₄aryloxy group, that is to say O—C₆₋₂₄aryl, such as, for example, phenoxy or 4-methoxyphenyl. The term “aryl thioether group” is typically a C₆₋₂₄arylthio group, that is to say S—C₆₋₂₄aryl, such as, for example, phenylthio or 4-methoxyphenylthio. The term “carbamoyl group” is typically a C₁₋₁₈-carbamoyl radical, preferably C₁₋₈-carbamoyl radical, which may be unsubstituted or substituted, such as, for example, carbamoyl, methylcarbamoyl, ethylcarbamoyl, n-butylcarbamoyl, tert-butylcarbamoyl, dimethylcarbamoyloxy, morpholinocarbamoyl or pyrrolidinocarbamoyl.

The terms “aryl” and “alkyl” in alkylamino groups, dialkylamino groups, alkylarylamino groups, arylamino groups and diaryl groups are typically C₁-C₂₅alkyl and C₆-C₂₄aryl, respectively.

Alkylaryl refers to alkyl-substituted aryl radicals, especially C₇-C₁₂alkylaryl. Examples are tolyl, such as 3-methyl-, or 4-methylphenyl, or xylyl, such as 3,4-dimethylphenyl, or 3,5-dimethylphenyl.

Heteroaryl is typically C₂-C₂₆heteroaryl, i.e. a ring with five to seven ring atoms or a condensed ring system, wherein nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur are the possible hetero atoms, and is typically an unsaturated heterocyclic group with five to 30 atoms having at least six conjugated c-electrons such as thienyl, benzo[b]thienyl, dibenzo[b,d]thienyl, thianthrenyl, furyl, furfuryl, 2H-pyranyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, dibenzofuranyl, phenoxythienyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, bipyridyl, triazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, quinolizinyl, chinolyl, isochinolyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, chinoxalinyl, chinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, carbolinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzoxazolyl, phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, pyrimidinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, isothiazolyl, phenothiazinyl, isoxazolyl, furazanyl or phenoxazinyl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted.

Examples of a five or six membered ring formed by, for example, R²⁵ and R²⁶, respectively are heterocycloalkanes or heterocycloalkenes having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms which can have one additional hetero atom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, for example

which can be part of a bicyclic system, for example

Possible substituents of the above-mentioned groups are C₁-C₈alkyl, a hydroxyl group, a mercapto group, C₁-C₈alkoxy, C₁-C₈alkylthio, halogen, halo-C₁-C₈alkyl, a cyano group, an aldehyde group, a ketone group, a carboxyl group, an ester group, a carbamoyl group, an amino group, a nitro group or a silyl group.

If a substituent, such as, for example R⁷ occurs more than one time in a group, it can be different in each occurrence.

The wording “substituted by G” means that one, or more, especially one to three substituents G might be present.

As described above, the aforementioned groups may be substituted by E and/or, if desired, interrupted by D. Interruptions are of course possible only in the case of groups containing at least 2 carbon atoms connected to one another by single bonds; C₆-C₁₈aryl is not interrupted; interrupted arylalkyl or alkylaryl contains the unit D in the alkyl moiety. C₁-C₁₈alkyl substituted by one or more E and/or interrupted by one or more units D is, for example, (CH₂CH₂O)₁₋₉₋R^(x), where R^(x) is H or C₁-C₁₀alkyl or C₂-C₁₀alkanoyl (e.g. CO—CH(C₂H₅)C₄H₉), CH₂—CH(OR^(y)′)—CH₂—O—R^(y), where R^(y) is C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₅-C₁₂cycloalkyl, phenyl, C₇-C₁₅-phenylalkyl, and R^(y)′ embraces the same definitions as R^(y) or is H; C₁-C₈alkylene-COO—R^(z), e.g. CH₂COOR^(z), CH(CH₃)COOR^(z), C(CH₃)₂COOR^(z), where R^(z) is H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, (CH₂CH₂O)₁₋₉₋R^(x), and R^(x) embraces the definitions indicated above; CH₂CH₂—O—CO—CH═CH₂; CH₂CH(OH)CH₂—O—CO—C(CH₃)═CH₂.

Preferred arylene radicals are 1,4-phenylene, 2,5-tolylene, 1,4-naphthylene, 1,9 antracylene, 2,7-phenantrylene and 2,7-dihydrophenantrylene.

Preferred heteroarylene radicals are 2,5-pyrazinylene, 3,6-pyridazinylene, 2,5-pyridinylene, 2,5-pyrimidinylene, 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2,5-ylene, 1,3-thiazol-2,4-ylene, 1,3-thiazol-2,5-ylene, 2,4-thiophenylene, 2,5-thiophenylene, 1,3-oxazol-2,4-ylene, 1,3-oxazol-2,5-ylene and 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2,5-ylene, 2,5-indenylene and 2,6-indenylene.

The compounds of formula I can be used in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), especially as hosts for phosphorescent compounds. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to an electroluminescent device, comprising a compound of formula I. In a preferred embodiment the electroluminescent device comprising a cathode, an anode, and therebetween a light emitting layer containing a host material and a phosphorescent light-emitting material wherein the host material is a compound of formula I.

Suitably, the light-emitting layer of the OLED device comprises a host material and one or more guest materials for emitting light. At least one of the host materials is a compound comprising a compound of formula I. The light-emitting guest material(s) is usually present in an amount less than the amount of host materials and is typically present in an amount of up to 15 wt % of the host, more typically from 0.1 to 10 wt % of the host, and commonly from 2 to 8% of the host. For convenience, the phosphorescent complex guest material may be referred to herein as a phosphorescent material. The emissive layer may comprise a single material, that combines transport and emissive properties. Whether the emissive material is a dopant or a major constituent, emissive layer may comprise other materials, such as dopants that tune the emission of the emissive layer. The emissive layer may include a plurality of emissive materials capable of, in combination, emitting a desired spectrum of light.

Other Host Materials for Phosphorescent Materials

The host material useful in the invention may be used alone or in combination with other host materials. Other host materials should be selected so that the triplet exciton can be transferred efficiently from the host material to the phosphorescent material. Suitable host materials are described in WO0/70655; 01/39234; 01/93642; 02/074015; 02/15645, and US20020117662. Suitable hosts include certain aryl amines, triazoles, indoles and carbazole compounds. Examples of hosts are 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazole-biphenyl (CBP), 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazole-biphenyl, m-(N,N′-dicarbazole)benzene, and poly(N-vinylcarbazole), including their derivatives.

Desirable host materials are capable of forming a continuous film. The light-emitting layer may contain more than one host material in order to improve the device's film morphology, electrical properties, light emission efficiency, and lifetime. The light emitting layer may contain a first host material that has good hole-transporting properties, and a second host material that has good electron-transporting properties.

Phosphorescent Materials

Phosphorescent materials may be used alone or, in certain cases, in combination with each other, either in the same or different layers. Examples of phosphorescent and related materials are described in WO0/57676, WO0/70655, WO01/41512, WO02/15645, US2003/0017361, WO01/93642, WO01/39234, U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,475, WO02/071813, U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,651, US2002/0197511, WO02/074015, U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,455, US2003/0072964, US2003/0068528, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,413,656, 6,515,298, 6,451,415, 6,097,147, US2003/0124381, US2003/0059646, US2003/0054198, EP1239526, EP1238981, EP1244155, US2002/0100906, US2003/0068526, US2003/0068535, JP2003073387, JP2003073388, US2003/0141809, US2003/0040627, JP2003059667, JP2003073665 and US2002/0121638.

The emission wavelengths of cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes of the type IrL₃ and IrL₂L′, such as the green-emitting fac-tris(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C^(2′))iridium(III) and bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C^(2′))Iridium(II) (acetylacetonate) may be shifted by substitution of electron donating or withdrawing groups at appropriate positions on the cyclometallating ligand L, or by choice of different heterocycles for the cyclometallating ligand L. The emission wavelengths may also be shifted by choice of the ancillary ligand L′. Examples of red emitters are the bis(2-(2′-benzothienyl)pyridinato-N,C^(3′))iridium(EI)(acetylacetonate) and tris(1-phenylisoquinolinato-N,C)iridium(III). A blue-emitting example is bis(2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C²)Iridium(III)(picolinate).

Red electrophosphorescence has been reported, using bis(2-(2′-benzo[4,5-a]thienyl)pyridinato-N, C³)iridium(acetylacetonate)[Btp₂Ir(acac)] as the phosphorescent material (Adachi, C., Lamansky, S., Baldo, M. A., Kwong, R. C., Thompson, M. E., and Forrest, S. R., App. Phys. Lett., 78, 1622 1624 (2001).

Other important phosphorescent materials include cyclometallated Pt(II) complexes such as cis-bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C^(2′))platinum(II), cis-bis(2-(2′-thienyl)pyridinato-N,C³) platinum(II), cis-bis(2-(2′-thienyl)quinolinato-N,C^(5′)) platinum(II), or (2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-NC2′) platinum(II)acetylacetonate. Pt(II)porphyrin complexes such as 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H, 23H-porphine platinum(H) are also useful phosphorescent materials.

Still other examples of useful phosphorescent materials include coordination complexes of the trivalent lanthanides such as Th³⁺ and Eu³⁺ (J. Kido et al, Appl. Phys. Lett., 65, 2124 (1994)).

Other important phosphorescent materials are described in WO06/000544 and European patent application no. 07102949.0.

Examples of phosphorescent materials are compounds A-1 to B-234, B-1 to B-234, C-1 to C-44 and D-1 to D-234, which are described in European patent application no. 07102949.0:

Cpd. R² R³ R⁶ A-1 H H H A-2 H H OCH₃ A-3 H H OCH₂CH₃ A-4 H H O-n-butyl A-5 H H O-iso-butyl A-6 H H O-2-butyl A-7 H H O-2-ethylhexyl A-8 H H N(CH₃)₂ A-9 H H NPh₂ A-10 H CF₃ H A-11 CF₃ H H A-12 H CF₃ OCH₃ A-13 CF₃ H OCH₃ A-14 H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ A-15 CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ A-16 H CF₃ O-n-butyl A-17 CF₃ H O-n-butyl A-18 H CF₃ O-iso-butyl A-19 CF₃ H O-iso-butyl A-20 H CF₃ O-2-butyl A-21 CF₃ H O-2-butyl A-22 H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl A-23 CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl A-24 H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ A-25 CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ A-26 H CF₃ NPh₂ A-27 CF₃ H NPh₂ A-28 H CN H A-29 CN H H A-30 H CN OCH₃ A-31 CN H OCH₂CH₃ A-32 H CN OCH₂CH₃ A-33 CN H O-n-butyl A-34 H CN O-n-butyl A-35 CN H O-iso-butyl A-36 H CN O-iso-butyl A-37 CN H O-2-butyl A-38 H CN O-2-butyl A-39 CN H O-2-ethylhexyl A-40 H CN O-2-ethylhexyl A-41 CN H N(CH₃)₂ A-42 H CN N(CH₃)₂ A-43 CN H NPh₂ A-44 H CN NPh₂

Cpd. L′ R² R³ R⁶ B-1 A¹⁾ H H H B-2 A¹⁾ H H OCH₃ B-3 A¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ B-4 A¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl B-5 A¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl B-6 A¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl B-7 A¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl B-8 A¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ B-9 A¹⁾ H H NPh₂ B-10 A¹⁾ H CF₃ H B-11 A¹⁾ CF₃ H H B-12 A¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ B-13 A¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ B-14 A¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ B-15 A¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ B-16 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl B-17 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl B-18 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl B-19 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl B-20 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl B-21 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl B-22 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl B-23 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl B-24 A¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ B-25 A¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ B-26 A¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ B-27 A¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ B-28 A¹⁾ H CN H B-29 A¹⁾ CN H H B-30 A¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ B-31 A¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ B-32 A¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ B-33 A¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ B-34 A¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl B-35 A¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl B-36 A¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl B-37 A¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl B-38 A¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl B-39 A¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl B-40 A¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl B-41 A¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl B-42 A¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ B-43 A¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ B-44 A¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ B-45 A¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ B-46 B¹⁾ H H H B-47 B¹⁾ H H OCH₃ B-48 B¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ B-49 B¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl B-50 B¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl B-51 B¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl B-52 B¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl B-53 B¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ B-54 B¹⁾ H H NPh₂ B-55 B¹⁾ H CF₃ H B-56 B¹⁾ CF₃ H H B-57 B¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ B-58 B¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ B-59 B¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ B-60 B¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ B-61 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl B-62 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl B-63 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl B-64 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl B-65 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl B-66 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl B-67 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl B-68 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl B-69 B¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ B-70 B¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ B-71 B¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ B-72 B¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ B-73 B¹⁾ H CN H B-74 B¹⁾ CN H H B-75 B¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ B-76 B¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ B-77 B¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ B-78 B¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ B-79 B¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl B-80 B¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl B-81 B¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl B-82 B¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl B-83 B¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl B-84 B¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl B-85 B¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl B-86 B¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl B-87 B¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ B-88 B¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ B-89 B¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ B-99 B¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ B-100 C¹⁾ H H H B-101 C¹⁾ H H OCH₃ B-102 C¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ B-103 C¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl B-104 C¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl B-105 C¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl B-106 C¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl B-107 C¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ B-108 C¹⁾ H H NPh₂ B-109 C¹⁾ H CF₃ H B-110 C¹⁾ CF₃ H H B-111 C¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ B-112 C¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ B-113 C¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ B-114 C¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ B-115 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl B-116 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl B-117 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl B-118 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl B-119 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl B-120 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl B-121 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl B-122 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl B-123 C¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ B-124 C¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ B-125 C¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ B-126 C¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ B-127 C¹⁾ H CN H B-128 C¹⁾ CN H H B-129 C¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ B-130 C¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ B-131 C¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ B-132 C¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ B-133 C¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl B-134 C¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl B-135 C¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl B-136 C¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl B-137 C¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl B-138 C¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl B-139 C¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl B-140 C¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl B-141 C¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ B-142 C¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ B-143 C¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ B-144 C¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ B-145 D¹⁾ H H H B-146 D¹⁾ H H OCH₃ B-147 D¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ B-148 D¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl B-149 D¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl B-150 D¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl B-151 D¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl B-152 D¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ B-153 D¹⁾ H H NPh₂ B-154 D¹⁾ H CF₃ H B-155 D¹⁾ CF₃ H H B-156 D¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ B-157 D¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ B-158 D¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ B-159 D¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ B-160 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl B-161 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl B-162 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl B-163 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl B-164 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl B-165 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl B-166 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl B-167 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl B-168 D¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ B-169 D¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ B-170 D¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ B-171 D¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ B-172 D¹⁾ H CN H B-173 D¹⁾ CN H H B-174 D¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ B-175 D¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ B-176 D¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ B-177 D¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ B-178 D¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl B-179 D¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl B-180 D¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl B-181 D¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl B-182 D¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl B-183 D¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl B-184 D¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl B-185 D¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl B-186 D¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ B-187 D¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ B-188 D¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ B-189 D¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ B-190 E¹⁾ H H H B-191 E¹⁾ H H OCH₃ B-192 E¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ B-193 E¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl B-194 E¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl B-195 E¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl B-196 E¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl B-197 E¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ B-198 E¹⁾ H H NPh₂ B-199 E¹⁾ H CF₃ H B-200 E¹⁾ CF₃ H H B-201 E¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ B-202 E¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ B-203 E¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ B-204 E¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ B-205 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl B-206 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl B-207 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl B-208 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl B-209 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl B-210 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl B-211 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl B-212 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl B-213 E¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ B-214 E¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ B-215 E¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ B-216 E¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ B-217 E¹⁾ H CN H B-218 E¹⁾ CN H H B-219 E¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ B-220 E¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ B-221 E¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ B-222 E¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ B-223 E¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl B-224 E¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl B-225 E¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl B-226 E¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl B-227 E¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl B-228 E¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl B-229 E¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl B-230 E¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl B-231 E¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ B-232 E¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ B-233 E¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ B-234 E¹⁾ H CN NPh₂

Cpd. R² R³ R⁶ C-1 H H H C-2 H H OCH₃ C-3 H H OCH₂CH₃ C-4 H H O-n-butyl C-5 H H O-iso-butyl C-6 H H O-2-butyl C-7 H H O-2-ethylhexyl C-8 H H N(CH₃)₂ C-9 H H NPh₂ C-10 H CF₃ H C-11 CF₃ H H C-12 H CF₃ OCH₃ C-13 CF₃ H OCH₃ C-14 H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ C-15 CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ C-16 H CF₃ O-n-butyl C-17 CF₃ H O-n-butyl C-18 H CF₃ O-iso-butyl C-19 CF₃ H O-iso-butyl C-20 H CF₃ O-2-butyl C-21 CF₃ H O-2-butyl C-22 H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl C-23 CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl C-24 H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ C-25 CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ C-26 H CF₃ NPh₂ C-27 CF₃ H NPh₂ C-28 H CN H C-29 CN H H C-30 H CN OCH₃ C-31 CN H OCH₂CH₃ C-32 H CN OCH₂CH₃ C-33 CN H O-n-butyl C-34 H CN O-n-butyl C-35 CN H O-iso-butyl C-36 H CN O-iso-butyl C-37 CN H O-2-butyl C-38 H CN O-2-butyl C-39 CN H O-2-ethylhexyl C-40 H CN O-2-ethylhexyl C-41 CN H N(CH₃)₂ C-42 H CN N(CH₃)₂ C-43 CN H NPh₂ C-44 H CN NPh₂

Cpd. L′ R² R³ R⁶ D-1 A¹⁾ H H H D-2 A¹⁾ H H OCH₃ D-3 A¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ D-4 A¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl D-5 A¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl D-6 A¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl D-7 A¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl D-8 A¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ D-9 A¹⁾ H H NPh₂ D-10 A¹⁾ H CF₃ H D-11 A¹⁾ CF₃ H H D-12 A¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ D-13 A¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ D-14 A¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ D-15 A¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ D-16 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl D-17 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl D-18 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl D-19 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl D-20 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl D-21 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl D-22 A¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl D-23 A¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl D-24 A¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ D-25 A¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ D-26 A¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ D-27 A¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ D-28 A¹⁾ H CN H D-29 A¹⁾ CN H H D-30 A¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ D-31 A¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ D-32 A¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ D-33 A¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ D-34 A¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl D-35 A¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl D-36 A¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl D-37 A¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl D-38 A¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl D-39 A¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl D-40 A¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl D-41 A¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl D-42 A¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ D-43 A¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ D-44 A¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ D-45 A¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ D-46 B¹⁾ H H H D-47 B¹⁾ H H OCH₃ D-48 B¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ D-49 B¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl D-50 B¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl D-51 B¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl D-52 B¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl D-53 B¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ D-54 B¹⁾ H H NPh₂ D-55 B¹⁾ H CF₃ H D-56 B¹⁾ CF₃ H H D-57 B¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ D-58 B¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ D-59 B¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ D-60 B¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ D-61 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl D-62 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl D-63 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl D-64 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl D-65 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl D-66 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl D-67 B¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl D-68 B¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl D-69 B¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ D-70 B¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ D-71 B¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ D-72 B¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ D-73 B¹⁾ H CN H D-74 B¹⁾ CN H H D-75 B¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ D-76 B¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ D-77 B¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ D-78 B¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ D-79 B¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl D-80 B¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl D-81 B¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl D-82 B¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl D-83 B¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl D-84 B¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl D-85 B¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl D-86 B¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl D-87 B¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ D-88 B¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ D-89 B¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ D-99 B¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ D-100 C¹⁾ H H H D-101 C¹⁾ H H OCH₃ D-102 C¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ D-103 C¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl D-104 C¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl D-105 C¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl D-106 C¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl D-107 C¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ D-108 C¹⁾ H H NPh₂ D-109 C¹⁾ H CF₃ H D-110 C¹⁾ CF₃ H H D-111 C¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ D-112 C¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ D-113 C¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ D-114 C¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ D-115 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl D-116 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl D-117 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl D-118 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl D-119 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl D-120 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl D-121 C¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl D-122 C¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl D-123 C¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ D-124 C¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ D-125 C¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ D-126 C¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ D-127 C¹⁾ H CN H D-128 C¹⁾ CN H H D-129 C¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ D-130 C¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ D-131 C¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ D-132 C¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ D-133 C¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl D-134 C¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl D-135 C¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl D-136 C¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl D-137 C¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl D-138 C¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl D-139 C¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl D-140 C¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl D-141 C¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ D-142 C¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ D-143 C¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ D-144 C¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ D-145 D¹⁾ H H H D-146 D¹⁾ H H OCH₃ D-147 D¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ D-148 D¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl D-149 D¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl D-150 D¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl D-151 D¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl D-152 D¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ D-153 D¹⁾ H H NPh₂ D-154 D¹⁾ H CF₃ H D-155 D¹⁾ CF₃ H H D-156 D¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ D-157 D¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ D-158 D¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ D-159 D¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ D-160 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl D-161 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl D-162 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl D-163 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl D-164 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl D-165 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl D-166 D¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl D-167 D¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl D-168 D¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ D-169 D¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ D-170 D¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ D-171 D¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ D-172 D¹⁾ H CN H D-173 D¹⁾ CN H H D-174 D¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ D-175 D¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ D-176 D¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ D-177 D¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ D-178 D¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl D-179 D¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl D-180 D¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl D-181 D¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl D-182 D¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl D-183 D¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl D-184 D¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl D-185 D¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl D-186 D¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ D-187 D¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ D-188 D¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ D-189 D¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ D-190 F¹⁾ H H H D-191 F¹⁾ H H OCH₃ D-192 F¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ D-193 F¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl D-194 F¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl D-195 F¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl D-196 F¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl D-197 F¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ D-198 F¹⁾ H H NPh₂ D-199 F¹⁾ H CF₃ H D-200 F¹⁾ CF₃ H H D-201 F¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ D-202 F¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ D-203 F¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ D-204 F¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ D-205 F¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl D-206 F¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl D-207 F¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl D-208 F¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl D-209 F¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl D-210 F¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl D-211 F¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl D-212 F¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl D-213 F¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ D-214 F¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ D-215 F¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ D-216 F¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ D-217 F¹⁾ H CN H D-218 F¹⁾ CN H H D-219 F¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ D-220 F¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ D-221 F¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ D-222 F¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ D-223 F¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl D-224 F¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl D-225 F¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl D-226 F¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl D-227 F¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl D-228 F¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl D-229 F¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl D-230 F¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl D-231 F¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ D-232 F¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ D-233 F¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ D-234 F¹⁾ H CN NPh₂ D-235 E¹⁾ H H H D-236 E¹⁾ H H OCH₃ D-237 E¹⁾ H H OCH₂CH₃ D-238 E¹⁾ H H O-n-butyl D-239 E¹⁾ H H O-iso-butyl D-240 E¹⁾ H H O-2-butyl D-241 E¹⁾ H H O-2-ethylhexyl D-242 E¹⁾ H H N(CH₃)₂ D-243 E¹⁾ H H NPh₂ D-244 E¹⁾ H CF₃ H D-245 E¹⁾ CF₃ H H D-246 E¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₃ D-247 E¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₃ D-248 E¹⁾ H CF₃ OCH₂CH₃ D-249 E¹⁾ CF₃ H OCH₂CH₃ D-250 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-n-butyl D-251 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-n-butyl D-252 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-iso-butyl D-253 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-iso-butyl D-254 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-butyl D-255 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-butyl D-256 E¹⁾ H CF₃ O-2-ethylhexyl D-257 E¹⁾ CF₃ H O-2-ethylhexyl D-258 E¹⁾ H CF₃ N(CH₃)₂ D-259 E¹⁾ CF₃ H N(CH₃)₂ D-260 E¹⁾ H CF₃ NPh₂ D-261 E¹⁾ CF₃ H NPh₂ D-262 E¹⁾ H CN H D-263 E¹⁾ CN H H D-264 E¹⁾ CN H OCH₃ D-265 E¹⁾ H CN OCH₃ D-266 E¹⁾ CN H OCH₂CH₃ D-267 E¹⁾ H CN OCH₂CH₃ D-268 E¹⁾ CN H O-n-butyl D-269 E¹⁾ H CN O-n-butyl D-270 E¹⁾ CN H O-iso-butyl D-271 E¹⁾ H CN O-iso-butyl D-272 E¹⁾ CN H O-2-butyl D-273 E¹⁾ H CN O-2-butyl D-274 E¹⁾ CN H O-2-ethylhexyl D-275 E¹⁾ H CN O-2-ethylhexyl D-276 E¹⁾ CN H N(CH₃)₂ D-277 E¹⁾ H CN N(CH₃)₂ D-278 E¹⁾ CN H NPh₂ D-279 E¹⁾ H CN NPh₂

Blocking Layers

In addition to suitable hosts, an OLED device employing a phosphorescent material often requires at least one exciton or hole blocking layers to help confine the excitons or electron-hole recombination centers to the light-emitting layer comprising the host and phosphorescent material, or to reduce the number of charge carriers (electrons or holes). In one embodiment, such a blocking layer would be placed between the electron-transporting layer and the light-emitting layer. In this case, the ionization potential of the blocking layer should be such that there is an energy barrier for hole migration from the host into the electron-transporting layer, while the electron affinity should be such that electrons pass more readily from the electron-transporting layer into the light-emitting layer comprising host and phosphorescent material. It is further desired, but not absolutely required, that the triplet energy of the blocking material be greater than that of the phosphorescent material. Suitable hole-blocking materials are described in WO0/70655 and WO01/93642. Two examples of useful materials are bathocuproine (BCP) and bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)(4-phenylphenolato)aluminum(III) (BAlQ). Metal complexes other than Balq are also known to block holes and excitons as described in US20030068528. US20030175553 describes the use of fac-tris(1-phenylpyrazolato-N,C₂)iridium(III) (Irppz) in an electron/exciton blocking layer.

Embodiments of the invention can provide advantageous features such as operating efficiency, higher luminance, color hue, low drive voltage, and improved operating stability. Embodiments of the organometallic compounds useful in the invention can provide a wide range of hues including those useful in the emission of white light (directly or through filters to provide multicolor displays).

General Device Architecture

The compounds of the present invention can be employed in many OLED device configurations using small molecule materials, oligomeric materials, polymeric materials, or combinations thereof. These include very simple structures comprising a single anode and cathode to more complex devices, such as passive matrix displays comprised of orthogonal arrays of anodes and cathodes to form pixels, and active-matrix displays where each pixel is controlled independently, for example, with thin film transistors (TFTs).

There are numerous configurations of the organic layers. The essential requirements of an OLED are an anode, a cathode, and an organic light-emitting layer located between the anode and cathode. Additional layers may be employed as more fully described hereafter.

A typical structure, especially useful for of a small molecule device, is comprised of a substrate, an anode, a hole-injecting layer, a hole-transporting layer, a light-emitting layer, a hole- or exciton-blocking layer, an electron-transporting layer, and a cathode. These layers are described in detail below. Note that the substrate may alternatively be located adjacent to the cathode, or the substrate may actually constitute the anode or cathode. The organic layers between the anode and cathode are conveniently referred to as the organic EL element. Also, the total combined thickness of the organic layers is desirably less than 500 nm.

Substrate

The substrate can either be light transmissive or opaque, depending on the intended direction of light emission. The light transmissive property is desirable for viewing the EL emission through the substrate. Transparent glass or plastic is commonly employed in such cases. The substrate can be a complex structure comprising multiple layers of materials. This is typically the case for active matrix substrates wherein TFTs are provided below the OLED layers. It is still necessary that the substrate, at least in the emissive pixilated areas, be comprised of largely transparent materials such as glass or polymers. For applications where the EL emission is viewed through the top electrode, the transmissive characteristic of the bottom support is immaterial, and therefore can be light transmissive, light absorbing or light reflective. Substrates for use in this case include, but are not limited to, glass, plastic, semiconductor materials, silicon, ceramics, and circuit board materials. Again, the substrate can be a complex structure comprising multiple layers of materials such as found in active matrix TFT designs. It is necessary to provide in these device configurations a light-transparent top electrode.

Anode

When the desired electroluminescent light emission (EL) is viewed through the anode, the anode should be transparent or substantially transparent to the emission of interest. Common transparent anode materials used in this invention are indium-tin oxide (ITO), indium-zinc oxide (IZO) and tin oxide, but other metal oxides can work including, but not limited to, aluminum- or indium-doped zinc oxide, magnesium-indium oxide, and nickel-tungsten oxide. In addition to these oxides, metal nitrides, such as gallium nitride, and metal selenides, such as zinc selenide, and metal sulfides, such as zinc sulfide, can be used as the anode. For applications where EL emission is viewed only through the cathode, the transmissive characteristics of the anode are immaterial and any conductive material can be used, transparent, opaque or reflective. Example conductors for this application include, but are not limited to, gold, iridium, molybdenum, palladium, and platinum. Desired anode materials are commonly deposited by any suitable means such as evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, or electrochemical means. Anodes can be patterned using well-known photolithographic processes. Optionally, anodes may be polished prior to application of other layers to reduce surface roughness so as to minimize shorts or enhance reflectivity.

Cathode

When light emission is viewed solely through the anode, the cathode used in this invention can be comprised of nearly any conductive material. Desirable materials have good film-forming properties to ensure good contact with the underlying organic layer, promote electron injection at low voltage, and have good stability. Useful cathode materials often contain a low work function metal (<4.0 eV) or metal alloy. One useful cathode material is comprised of a Mg:Ag alloy wherein the percentage of silver is in the range of 1 to 20%, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,221. Another suitable class of cathode materials includes bilayers comprising the cathode and a thin electron-injection layer (EIL) in contact with an organic layer (e.g., an electron transporting layer (ETL)) which is capped with a thicker layer of a conductive metal. Here, the EIL preferably includes a low work function metal or metal salt, and if so, the thicker capping layer does not need to have a low work function. One such cathode is comprised of a thin layer of LiF followed by a thicker layer of Al as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,572. An ETL material doped with an alkali metal, for example, Li-doped Alq, is another example of a useful EIL. Other useful cathode material sets include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,059,861, 5,059,862 and 6,140,763.

When light emission is viewed through the cathode, the cathode must be transparent or nearly transparent. For such applications, metals must be thin or one must use transparent conductive oxides, or a combination of these materials. Optically transparent cathodes have been described in more detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,885,211, 5,247,190, JP 3,234,963, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,703,436, 5,608,287, 5,837,391, 5,677,572, 5,776,622, 5,776,623, 5,714,838, 5,969,474, 5,739,545, 5,981,306, 6,137,223, 6,140,763, 6,172,459, EP1076368, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,278,236 and 6,284,3936. Cathode materials are typically deposited by any suitable method such as evaporation, sputtering, or chemical vapor deposition. When needed, patterning can be achieved through many well known methods including, but not limited to, through-mask deposition, integral shadow masking as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,380 and EP0732868, laser ablation, and selective chemical vapor deposition.

Hole-Injecting Layer (HIL)

A hole-injecting layer may be provided between anode and hole-transporting layer. The hole-injecting material can serve to improve the film formation property of subsequent organic layers and to facilitate injection of holes into the hole-transporting layer. Suitable materials for use in the hole-injecting layer include, but are not limited to, porphyrinic compounds as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,432, plasma-deposited fluorocarbon polymers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,075, and some aromatic amines, for example, m-MTDATA (4,4′,4″-tris[(3-methylphenyl)phenylamino]triphenylamine). Alternative hole-injecting materials reportedly useful in organic EL devices are described in EP0891121 and EP1029909.

Hole-Transporting Layer (HTL)

The hole-transporting layer of the organic EL device contains at least one hole-transporting compound such as an aromatic tertiary amine, where the latter is understood to be a compound containing at least one trivalent nitrogen atom that is bonded only to carbon atoms, at least one of which is a member of an aromatic ring. In one form the aromatic tertiary amine can be an arylamine, such as a monoarylamine, diarylamine, triarylamine, or a polymeric arylamine. Exemplary monomeric triarylamines are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,730. Other suitable triarylamines substituted with one or more vinyl radicals and/or comprising at least one active hydrogen containing group are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,567,450 and 3,658,520. A more preferred class of aromatic tertiary amines are those which include at least two aromatic tertiary amine moieties as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,720,432 and 5,061,569. Such compounds include those represented by structural formula

wherein Q¹ and Q² are independently selected aromatic tertiary amine moieties and G is a linking group such as an arylene, cycloalkylene, or alkylene group of a carbon to carbon bond. In one embodiment, at least one of Q¹ or Q² contains a polycyclic fused ring structure, e.g., a naphthalene. When G is an aryl group, it is conveniently a phenylene, biphenylene, or naphthalene moiety.

A useful class of triarylamines satisfying structural formula (A) and containing two triarylamine moieties is represented by structural formula

where Q³ and Q⁴ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an aryl group, or an alkyl group or Q³ and Q⁴ together represent the atoms completing a cycloalkyl group; and Q⁵ and Q⁶ each independently represents an aryl group, which is in turn substituted with a diaryl substituted amino group, as indicated by structural formula

wherein Q⁷ and Q⁸ are independently selected aryl groups. In one embodiment, at least one of Q⁷ or Q⁸ contains a polycyclic fused ring structure, e.g., a naphthalene.

Another class of aromatic tertiary amines are the tetraaryldiamines. Desirable tetraaryldiamines include two diarylamino groups, such as indicated by formula (C), linked through an arylene group. Useful tetraaryldiamines include those represented by formula

wherein each Are is an independently selected arylene group, such as a phenylene or anthracene moiety, n is an integer of from 1 to 4, and Ar, Q⁹, Q¹⁰, and Q¹¹ are independently selected aryl groups. In a typical embodiment, at least one of Ar, Q⁹, Q¹⁰, and Q¹¹ is a polycyclic fused ring structure, e.g., a naphthalene. The various alkyl, alkylene, aryl, and arylene moieties of the foregoing structural formulae (A), (B), (C), (D), can each in turn be substituted. Typical substituents include alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, and halogen such as fluoride, chloride, and bromide. The various alkyl and alkylene moieties typically contain from about 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The cycloalkyl moieties can contain from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, but typically contain five, six, or seven ring carbon atoms, e.g. cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl ring structures. The aryl and arylene moieties are usually phenyl and phenylene moieties.

The hole-transporting layer can be formed of a single or a mixture of aromatic tertiary amine compounds. Specifically, one may employ a triarylamine, such as a triarylamine satisfying the formula (B), in combination with a tetraaryldiamine, such as indicated by formula (D).

When a triarylamine is employed in combination with a tetraaryldiamine, the latter is positioned as a layer interposed between the triarylamine and the electron injecting and transporting layer. Illustrative of useful aromatic tertiary amines are the following: 1,1-Bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)-4-phenylcyclohexane, N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl-4,4′″-diamino-1,1′:4′,1″:4″, 1′″-quaterphenyl bis(4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl)phenylmethane, 1,4-bis[2-[4-[N,N-di(p-toly)amino]phenyl]vinyl]benzene (BDTAPVB), N,N,N′,N′-tetra-p-tolyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl, N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl, N,N,N′,N′-tetra-1-naphthyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl, N,N,N′,N′-tetra-2-naphthyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl, N-phenylcarbazole, 4,4′-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl (NPB), 4,4′-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-(2-naphthyl)amino]biphenyl (TNB), 4,4′-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]p-terphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(2-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(3-acenaphthenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 1,5-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]naphthalene, 4,4′-bis[N-(9-anthryl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(1-anthryl)-N-phenylamino]-p-terphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(2-phenanthryl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(8-fluoranthenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(2-pyrenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(2-naphthacenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(2-perylenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 4,4′-bis[N-(1-coronenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl, 2,6-bis(di-p-tolylamino) naphthalene, 2,6-bis[di-(1-naphthyl)amino]naphthalene, 2,6-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-(2-naphthyl)amino]naphthalene, N,N,N′,N′-tetra(2-naphthyl)-4,4″-diamino-p-terphenyl, 4,4′-bis {N-phenyl-N-[4-(1-naphthyl)-phenyl]amino}biphenyl, 2,6-bis[N,N-di(2-naphthyl)amino]fluorine, 4,4′,4″-tris[(3-methylphenyl)phenylamino]triphenylamine (MTDATA), and 4,4′-Bis[N-(3-methylphenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl(TPD). A hole transport layer may be used to enhance conductivity. NPD and TPD are examples of intrinsic hole transport layers. An example of a p-doped hole transport layer is m-MTDATA doped with F₄-TCNQ at a molar ratio of 50:1 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,102 or DE10058578.

Another class of useful hole-transporting materials includes polycyclic aromatic compounds as described in EP1009041. Tertiary aromatic amines with more than two amine groups may be used including oligomeric materials. In addition, polymeric hole-transporting materials can be used such as poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), polythiophenes, polypyrrole, polyaniline, and copolymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) also called PEDOT/PSS.

Fluorescent Light-Emitting Materials and Layers (LEL)

In addition to the phosphorescent materials, other light emitting materials may be used in the OLED device, including fluorescent materials. Although the term “fluorescent” is commonly used to describe any light emitting material, in this case we are referring to a material that emits light from a singlet excited state. Fluorescent materials may be used in the same layer as the phosphorescent material, in adjacent layers, in adjacent pixels, or any combination. Care must be taken not to select materials that will adversely affect the performance of the phosphorescent materials. One skilled in the art will understand that triplet excited state energies of materials in the same layer as the phosphorescent material or in an adjacent layer must be appropriately set so as to prevent unwanted quenching. As more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,769,292 and 5,935,721, the light-emitting layer (LEL) of the organic EL element includes a luminescent fluorescent or phosphorescent material where electroluminescence is produced as a result of electron-hole pair recombination in this region. The light-emitting layer can be comprised of a single material, but more commonly consists of a host material doped with a guest emitting material or materials where light emission comes primarily from the emitting materials and can be of any color. The host materials in the light-emitting layer can be an electron-transporting material, as defined below, a hole-transporting material, as defined above, or another material or combination of materials that support hole-electron recombination. Fluorescent emitting materials are typically incorporated at 0.01 to 10% by weight of the host material. The host and emitting materials can be small non-polymeric molecules or polymeric materials such as polyfluorenes and polyvinylarylenes (e.g., poly(p-phenylenevinylene), PPV). In the case of polymers, small molecule emitting materials can be molecularly dispersed into a polymeric host, or the emitting materials can be added by copolymerizing a minor constituent into a host polymer. Host materials may be mixed together in order to improve film formation, electrical properties, light emission efficiency, lifetime, or manufacturability. The host may comprise a material that has good hole-transporting properties and a material that has good electron-transporting properties.

Host and emitting materials known to be of use include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,768,292, 5,141,671, 5,150,006, 5,151,629, 5,405,709, 5,484,922, 5,593,788, 5,645,948, 5,683,823, 5,755,999, 5,928,802, 5,935,720, 5,935,721, and 6,020,078.

Metal complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline and similar derivatives (Formula E) constitute one class of useful host compounds capable of supporting electroluminescence, and are particularly suitable for light emission of wavelengths longer than 500 nm, e.g., green, yellow, orange, and red.

wherein M represents a metal; v is an integer of from 1 to 4; and ZZ independently in each occurrence represents the atoms completing a nucleus having at least two fused aromatic rings. From the foregoing it is apparent that the metal can be monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal. The metal can, for example, be an alkali metal, such as lithium, sodium, or potassium; an alkaline earth metal, such as magnesium or calcium; an earth metal, such aluminum or gallium, or a transition metal such as zinc or zirconium. Generally any monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal known to be a useful chelating metal can be employed. ZZ completes a heterocyclic nucleus containing at least two fused aromatic rings, at least one of which is an azole or azine ring. Additional rings, including both aliphatic and aromatic rings, can be fused with the two required rings, if required. To avoid adding molecular bulk without improving on function the number of ring atoms is usually maintained at 18 or less.

Illustrative of useful chelated oxinoid compounds are the following:

CO-1: Aluminum trisoxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III)] CO-2: Magnesium bisoxine [alias, bis(8-quinolinolato)magnesium(II)] CO-3: Bis[benzo{f}-8-quinolinolato]zinc(II) CO-4: Bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)aluminum(II)-μ-oxo-bis(2-methyl-8-quinol-inolato)aluminum(III) CO-5: Indium trisoxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)indium] CO-6: Aluminum tris(5-methyloxine) [alias, tris(5-methyl-8-quinolinolato) aluminum(II)] CO-7: Lithium oxine [alias, (8-quinolinolato)lithium(1)] CO-8: Gallium oxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(III)] CO-9: Zirconium oxine [alias, tetra(8-quinolinolato)zirconium(IV)]

Useful fluorescent emitting materials include, but are not limited to, derivatives of anthracene, tetracene, xanthene, perylene, rubrene, coumarin, rhodamine, and quinacridone, dicyanomethylenepyran compounds, thiopyran compounds, polymethine compounds, pyrilium and thiapyrilium compounds, fluorene derivatives, periflanthene derivatives, indenoperylene derivatives, bis(azinyl)amine boron compounds, bis(azinyl)methane compounds, and carbostyryl compounds. Illustrative examples of useful materials include, but are not limited to, compounds L1 to L52 described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,930B2.

Electron-Transporting Layer (ETL)

Preferred thin film-forming materials for use in forming the electron-transporting layer of the organic EL devices of this invention are metal chelated oxinoid compounds, including chelates of oxine itself (also commonly referred to as 8-quinolinol or 8-hydroxyquinoline). Such compounds help to inject and transport electrons and exhibit both high levels of performance and are readily fabricated in the form of thin films. Exemplary of contemplated oxinoid compounds are those satisfying structural formula (E), previously described. Other electron-transporting materials include various butadiene derivatives as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,429 and various heterocyclic optical brighteners as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507. Benzazoles satisfying structural formula (G) are also useful electron transporting materials. Triazines are also known to be useful as electron transporting materials. Doping may be used to enhance conductivity. Alq₃ is an example of an intrinsic electron transport layer. An example of an n-doped electron transport layer is BPhen doped with Li at a molar ratio of 1:1, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,102.

Deposition of Organic Layers

The organic materials mentioned above are suitably deposited by any means suitable for the form of the organic materials. In the case of small molecules, they are conveniently deposited through thermal evaporation, but can be deposited by other means such as from a solvent with an optional binder to improve film formation. If the material is soluble or in oligomeric/polymeric form, solution processing is usually preferred e.g. spin-coating, ink-jet printing. Dendrimer substituents may be used to enhance the ability of small molecules to undergo solution processing. Patterned deposition can be achieved using shadow masks, integral shadow masks (U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,870), spatially-defined thermal dye transfer from a donor sheet (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,688,551, 5,851,709 and 6,066,357) and inkjet method (U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,357).

Encapsulation

Most OLED devices are sensitive to moisture or oxygen, or both, so they are commonly sealed in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon, along with a desiccant such as alumina, bauxite, calcium sulfate, clays, silica gel, zeolites, alkaline metal oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, sulfates, or metal halides and perchlorates. Methods for encapsulation and desiccation include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,890. In addition, barrier layers such as SiO_(x), Teflon, and alternating inorganic/polymeric layers are known in the art for encapsulation.

Devices fabricated in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be incorporated into a wide variety of consumer products, including flat panel displays, computer monitors, televisions, billboards, lights for interior or exterior illumination and/or signalling, fully transparent displays, flexible displays, laser printers, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, digital cameras, camcorders, viewfinders, micro-displays, vehicles, theatre or stadium screen, or a sign. Various control mechanism may be used to control devices fabricated in accordance with the present invention, including passive matrix and active matrix.

Various features and aspects of the present invention are illustrated further in the examples that follow. While these examples are presented to show one skilled in the art how to operate within the scope of this invention, they are not to serve as a limitation on the scope of the invention where such scope is only defined in the claims. Unless otherwise indicated in the following examples and elsewhere in the specification and claims, all parts and percentages are by weight, temperatures are in degrees centigrade and pressures are at or near atmospheric.

EXAMPLES Example 1

0.80 g of the starting iodide, 0.44 g of diphenylamine, 0.01 g of copper iodide, 0.02 g of 1,10-phenanthroline and 0.53 g of sodium hydroxide are added in this order to 10 ml of dry toluene under an atmosphere of argon. The reaction mixture is heated at 125° C. for one night. The precipitated product is filtered and re-crystallized in 20 ml DMF. 0.40 g of 90% pure product are obtained. The product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel with toluene.

Example 2

2a) To 12.0 g (32.8 mmol) 3,6-dibromo-phenanthrene-9,10-dione in 300 ml water free ethanol 2.36 g (39.3 mmol) ethanol diamine are added. The reaction mixture is refluxed under nitrogen for 8 h. 500 ml glacial acetic acid are added and the reaction mixture is refluxed for additional 9 h under air and cooled to 25° C. The product is filtered off and washed with ethanol (melting point: 278.0-282.0° C.).

2b) To 3.00 g (7.73 mmol) of the product of example 2a in 60 ml toluene 1.60 g (16.6 mmol) sodium tert-butylate are added. The reaction mixture is degassed with argon. 87 mg (0.39 mmol) palladium (II) acetate are added. The reaction mixture is degassed with argon. 156 mg (0.77 mmol) tri-tert-butylphosphine are added. A degassed solution of 5.26 g (24.0 mmol) N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine in 15 ml toluene is added. The reaction mixture is stirred for 19 h at 90° C. under argon. The reaction mixture is filtered on silica gel with toluene. The solvent is removed in vacuum and the product is crystallized from diethyl ether (melting point: 228-230° C.).

Example 3

The reaction is carried out according to example 2b except that 4.36 g (11.2 mmol) of the product of example 2b and N-diphenyl amine are used (melting point: 206° C.).

Example 4

4a) To 20.0 g (54.6 mmol) 2,7-dibromo-phenanthrene-9,10-dione in 300 ml water free ethanol 3.94 g (65.6 mmol) ethanoldiamine are added. The reaction mixture is refluxed under nitrogen for 4 h. 500 ml glacial acetic acid are added and the reaction mixture is refluxed for additional 30 h under air and is cooled to 25° C. The product is filtered off, washed with water and decocted in glacial acetic acid and 2 times in methyl ethyl ketone (melting point: 176.0-179.0° C.).

4b) The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b. The product has a melting point of 177° C.

Example 5

The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b. The product has a melting point of 266.0-267.0° C.

Example 6

6a) A mixture of 5.0 g (13.7 mmol) 2,7-dibromo-phenanthrene-9,10-dione, 2.56 g (16.4 mmol) 1-naphthalene carboxaldehyde and 5.26 g (68.3 mmol) ammonium acetate in 100 ml ethanol is refluxed under nitrogen for 3 h. The product is filtered off, washed with ethanol, water and ethanol and crystallized from toluene.

6b) The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b (melting point: 283.0-286.0° C.).

Example 7

7b) The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b (decomposition point: 380° C.).

Example 8

8a) 30.0 g (82.0 mmol) 2,7-dibromo-phenanthrene-9,10-dione, 14.1 g (90.2 mmol) 1-naphthalene carboxaldehyde, 15.3 g (164 mmol) aniline and 19.0 g (246 mmol) ammonium acetate in 500 ml glacial acetic acid are refluxed for 4 h under nitrogen. The product is filtered off, washed with glacial acetic acid, water, a sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and water and then decocted in toluene and methyl ethyl ketone.

8b) The reaction is carried out according to example 2b. The product has a glass transition point of 158° C.

Example 9

The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b. The product has a melting point of 334° C.

Example 10

10a) 20.0 g (54.6 mmol) 3,6-dibromo-phenanthrene-9,10-dione, 10.2 g (65.6 mmol) 1-naphthalene carboxaldehyde, 21.2 g (164 mmol) aniline and 12.6 g (164 mmol) ammonium acetate in 400 ml glacial acetic acid are refluxed for 2 h under nitrogen. The product is filtered off and washed with glacial acetic acid and ethanol.

10b) The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b. The product has a melting point of 193.0-195.0° C. (glass transition point 153° C.).

Example 11

The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b. The product has a melting point of 350° C.

Example 12

The synthesis is carried out in analogy to example 2b. The product has a melting point of 290° C.

Application Example 1

Device fabrication: Prior to device fabrication, indium tin oxide (ITO) on glass is patterned as 2 mm wide stripes (sheet resistance 20Ω/square). The substrates were cleaned by sonication in acetone, isopropanol and water for 15 minutes in each solvent. After that, the substrates are dried with a nitrogen steam and treated by O₂ vacuum plasma for 5 minutes. Organic layers of the OLEDS are sequentially deposited by thermal evaporation from resistively heated ceramic crucibles at a base pressure of 2×10⁻⁷ Torr, at 2A/s. Host and dopant were co-evaporated from different sources to form a thin film of 20 nm thickness. The evaporation rate of each single component source was controlled by a thickness monitor (Inficon) close to the substrate or to the source. All the devices were measured in a nitrogen glove box, immediately after fabrication.

Current-voltage and optical measurements were carried out with a Botest equipment. Electroluminescent spectra were measured with an Ocean Optic spectrometer.

An OLED is prepared having the following structure from the anode to the cathode: 60 nm of a hole injection layer, such as NHT-5 of Novaled AG, using 10 nm of an improved hole transport layer, such as NHT5:NDP2 of Novaled AG, 20 nm of 4,4′-bis[N-1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]-biphenyl (α-NPD), 20 nm of aluminum (III) bis(2-methyl-8-quinolato) 4-phenyl-phenolate (BAlq) doped with 15 wt % of compound obtained in Example 3c/10 nm of BAlq acting as hole blocking layer, 60 nm of an improved electron transport layer, such as NET-5:NDN-1 from Novaled, and 100 nm of aluminium as top electrode.

Power Current efficiency EML efficiency [lm/W] @ Voltage 15 wt % [cd/A] @ 1000 1000 [V] @ 1000 CIE CIE dopant cd/m² Cd/m² Cd/m² X Y Application Host example 5.5 5.3 3.3 0.68 0.32 Example 1 8b¹⁾ Application Mixed Host 5.8 5.5 3.4 0.68 0.32 Example 2 ex. 8b:BAlq 75:10¹⁾ Application Host ex. 10b¹⁾ 4.8 4.1 3.7 0.68 0.32 Example 3 Application Host ex. 10b¹⁾ 4.2 4.0 3.3 0.68 0.32 Example 4 Application Host ex. 8b¹⁾ 6.8 6.2 3.4 0.68 0.32 Example 5 Application Host ex. 5²⁾ 6.2 5.4 3.6 0.68 0.32 Example 6 Application Host ex. 3²⁾ 6.1 6.5 2.90 0.65 0.35 Example 7 Application Mixed host 8.3 8.7 3.0 0.65 0.35 Example 8 Ex 3:BAlq 50:50²⁾ Application Host ex. 8b²⁾ 7.9 8.8 2.82 0.65 0.35 Example 9 Application Mixed host 9.5 9.9 2.99 0.65 0.35 Example 10 Ex. 8b:BAlq 50:50²⁾ ¹⁾using phosphorescent compound obtained in example 4b of European patent application 07102949.0 as dopant in the emissive layer (EML):

²⁾using phosphorescent compound obtained in example 1b of European patent application 07102949.0 as dopant in the emissive layer (EML): 

1. An electroluminescent (EL) device, comprising a compound of the formula

wherein A is a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heteroaromatic ring, containing at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, Z¹ is

 NA¹A^(1′), —P(═O)A⁴A^(4′), or —SiA⁶A⁷A⁸, Z² is

 —NA²A^(2′), —P(═O)A⁵A^(5′), or —SiA^(6′)A^(7′)A^(8′), Ar and Ar′ are independently of each other C₆-C₁₄aryl which may optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from C₁-C₂₅alkyl which may optionally be interrupted by —O—, or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, or an organic substituent, or R¹ and R², R⁴ and R⁶, R² and R³, R⁵ and R³ and/or R⁵ and R⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring or ring system which can optionally be substituted, R⁷ is an organic substituent, wherein two or more substituents R⁷ in the same molecule may have different meanings, or can form together an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring or ring system, and x is 0, or an integer of 1 to 5; A¹, A², A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or a group

 wherein BU is a bridging unit, A³ and A^(3′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group or a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or A¹ and A^(1′) or A² and A^(2′) or A³ and A^(3′) together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heteroaromatic ring or ring system A⁴, A^(4′), A⁶, A⁷, A⁸, A⁵, A^(5′), A^(6′), A^(7′), and A^(8′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group or a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted.
 2. The EL device according to claim 1, comprising a compound of formula

R¹ and R⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently of each other H, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R⁸ and R⁹ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, or R⁸ and R⁹ together form a group

 wherein R^(206′), R^(208′) R²⁰⁵, R²⁰⁶, R²⁰⁷, R²⁰⁸, R²⁰⁹ and R²¹ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R¹⁰ is H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or —CO—R²⁸, R^(8′) and R^(9′) are independently of each other H, CN, —COOR²⁷; —CONR²⁵R²⁶, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN, or —CO—R²⁸; R¹¹ and R¹⁴ are independently of each other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, CN, or —CO—R²⁸, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are independently of each other H, halogen, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, CN or —CO—R²⁸, X is O, S, or NR¹⁷, wherein R¹⁷ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which are substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or two substituents R¹ and R², R⁴ and R⁶, R and R¹² and/or R¹⁴ and R⁶, R² and R³, R⁵ and R⁶, R¹² and R¹³, and/or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

 or two substituents R¹⁵ and R¹³, and/or R⁵ and R³, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

 wherein X³ is O, S, C(R¹¹⁹)(R¹²⁰), or NR¹⁷, R¹⁰⁵, R¹⁰⁶, R¹⁰⁷, R¹⁰⁸, R^(106′) and R^(108′) are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a group of formula ═CR¹²¹R¹²², wherein R¹²¹ and R¹²² are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a five or six membered ring, which optionally can be substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₁₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or —C(═O)—R², and R¹²⁷ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, D is —CO—; —COO—; —S—; —SO—; —SO₂—; —O—; —NR²⁵—; —SiR³⁰R³¹—; —POR³²—; —CR²³═CR²⁴—; or —C≡C—; and E is —OR²⁹; —SR²⁹; —NR²⁵R²⁶; —COR²⁸; —COOR²⁷; —CONR²⁵R²⁶; —CN; or halogen; G is E, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, wherein R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵ and R²⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or R²⁵ and R²⁶ together form a five or six membered ring, R²⁷ and R²⁸ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R²⁹ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl, which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R³⁰ and R³¹ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, and R³² is C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl.
 3. The EL device according to claim 2, comprising a compound of the formula X, or XI, wherein R and R⁴ are hydrogen, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or a group —X²—R¹⁸, R⁸ and R⁹ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, or a group —X²—R¹⁸; or two substituents R and R³ and/or R⁵ and R⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

 or two substituents R⁵ and R³, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

 wherein R¹⁰⁵, R¹⁰⁶, R¹⁰⁷ and —R¹⁰⁸ are independently of each other H, or C₁-C₈alkyl, or R⁸ and R⁹ together form a group

 wherein R²⁰⁵, R²⁰⁶, R²⁰⁷, R²⁰⁸, R²⁰⁹ and R²¹⁰ are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, R¹⁰ is H, C₆-C₁₈aryl, which can be substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈heteroaryl, which can be substituted by G, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or a group —X²—R¹⁸, wherein X² is a C₆-C₁₂aryl, or C₆-C₁₂heteroaryl spacer, which can be substituted one to two times with C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, and R¹⁸ is H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, or —NR²⁵R²⁶; D is —CO—; —COO—; —S—; —SO—; —SO₂—; —O—; —NR²⁵—; —CR²³═CR²⁴—; or —C≡C—; wherein R²³, R²⁴, R²⁵ and R²⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₈alkyl or C₁-C₈alkoxy; C₁-C₈alkyl; or C₁-C₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, or R²⁵ and R²⁶ together form a five or six membered ring.
 4. The EL device according to claim 2, comprising a compound having the formula

wherein R¹⁰ is H, C₆-C₁₈aryl which can be substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈heteroaryl which can be substituted by G, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or a group —X²—R¹⁸, wherein X² is a C₆-C₁₂aryl or C₆-C₁₂heteroaryl spacer which can be substituted one to two times with C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, and R¹⁸ is H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is interrupted by D, or —NR²⁵R²⁶—; R¹¹ and R¹⁴ are hydrogen, R¹², R¹³, R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are hydrogen, R¹⁷ is C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or two substituents R¹⁵ and R¹³, R¹² and R¹³ and/or R¹⁵ and R¹⁶, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

 or two substituents R¹⁵ and R¹³, which are adjacent to each other, together form a group

 wherein R¹⁰⁵, R¹⁰, R¹⁰⁷ and R¹⁰⁸ are independently of each other H, or C₁-C₈alkyl, D is —S—; —O—; or —NR²⁵—; E is —OR²⁹; —SR²⁹; —NR²⁵R²⁶; —CN; or F; G is E, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by D, C₁-C₁₈ perfluoroalkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, wherein R²⁵ and R²⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₈alkyl or C₁-C₈alkoxy; C₁-C₈alkyl; or C₁-C₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, or R²⁵ and R²⁶ together form

R²⁹ is C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—.
 5. The EL device according to claim 1, wherein A¹, A², A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other

 or A¹ and A^(1′) or A² and A^(2′) together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heteroaromatic ring system

 m′ is 0, 1, or 2; m can be the same or different at each occurence and is 0, 1, 2, or 3; R⁴¹ can be the same or different at each occurence and is Cl, F, CN, N(R⁴⁵)₂, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₂₅alkoxy group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR⁴⁵—, —O—, —S—, or —C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, or two or more groups R⁴¹ form a ring system; R⁴⁵ is H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR^(45″)—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or, —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, and R^(45″) is H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, or a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, R¹¹⁶, R¹¹⁷ and R^(117′) are independently of each other H, halogen, —CN, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, —C(═O)—R¹²⁷, —C(═O)OR¹²⁷, or —C(═O)NR¹²⁷R¹²⁸, or substituents R¹¹⁶, R¹¹⁷ and R^(117′), which are adjacent to each other, can form a ring, R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, or C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a group of formula ═CR¹²¹R¹²², wherein R¹²¹ and R¹²² are independently of each other H, C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, or C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, or R¹¹⁹ and R¹²⁰ together form a five or six membered ring, which optionally can be substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₆-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄aryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl, C₂-C₂₀heteroaryl which is substituted by G, C₂-C₁₈alkenyl, C₂-C₁₈alkynyl, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy, C₁-C₁₈alkoxy which is substituted by E and/or interrupted by D, C₇-C₂₅aralkyl, or —C(═O)—R¹²⁷, and R¹²⁶ and R¹²⁷ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, D is —CO—, —COO—, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂—, —O—, —NR⁶⁵, —SiR⁷⁰R⁷¹—, POR⁷²—, —CR⁶³═CR⁶⁴—, or —C≡C—, and E is —OR⁶⁹, SR⁶⁹, —NR⁶⁵R⁶⁶, —COR⁶⁸—COOR⁶⁷, —CONR⁶⁵R⁶⁶, —CN, or halogen, G is E, or C₁-C₁₈alkyl, R⁶³, R⁶⁴, R⁶⁵, R⁶⁵ and R⁶⁶ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—; or R⁶⁵ and R⁶⁶ together form a five or six membered ring, R⁶⁷ and R⁶⁸ are independently of each other H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R⁶⁹ is H; C₆-C₁₈aryl; C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl or C₁-C₁₈alkoxy; C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or C₁-C₁₈alkyl which is interrupted by —O—, R⁷⁰ and R⁷¹ are independently of each other C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl, and R⁷² is C₁-C₁₈alkyl, C₆-C₁₈aryl, or C₆-C₁₈aryl which is substituted by C₁-C₁₈alkyl; or A¹, A², A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other a group

 wherein BU is

or
 6. The EL device according to claim 1, comprising a compound selected from


7. Electroluminescent device according to claim 1, comprising a cathode, an anode, and therebetween a light emitting layer containing a host material and a phosphorescent light-emitting material, wherein the host material is a compound of formula I.
 8. A compound of the formula

wherein A, Z¹, Z², R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷ and x are as defined in claim 1, with the proviso that phenazine compounds expressed by formula

are excluded, wherein each R₁-R₄ is an H atom, a (substituted)alkyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group, or heterocyclic group, wherein R₁ and R₂, and R₃ and R₄ may form a 5-7 membered ring together with an N atom, respectively; each R₅-R₇ is an H atom, (substituted)alkyl group, alkoxy group, halogen atom or nitro group.
 9. Solar cells, dye lasers or electroluminescent devices comprising a compound of formula I according to claim
 8. 10. A process for the preparation of compounds of the formula Ia or Ib according to claim 12, wherein Z¹ and Z² are independently of each other —NA¹A^(1′), or

m′ is 0, 1, or 2; which comprises reacting a compound of formula

wherein X¹⁰ stands for halogen, with a compound of formula HNA¹A^(1′), or

in the presence of a base and a catalyst in a solvent.
 11. An electroluminescent (EL) device according to claim 1, comprising a compound of the formula

wherein A is a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heteroaromatic ring, containing one nitrogen atom and at least one further heteroatom selected from nitrogen, substituted nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, Ar and Ar′ are independently of each other phenyl or naphthyl, which may optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from C₁-C₂₅alkyl which may optionally be interrupted by —O— or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, A¹, A², A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or a group

 wherein BU is

A³ and A^(3′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group or a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or A¹ and A^(1′) or A² and A^(2′) or A³ and A^(3′) together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heteroaromatic ring system

 m′ is 0, 1, or 2; R⁴¹ can be the same or different at each occurence and is Cl, F, CN, NR⁴⁵R^(45′), a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₂₅alkoxy group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR⁴⁵—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₁aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, or two or more groups R⁴¹ form a ring system; R⁴⁵ and R^(45′) are independently of each other H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR⁴⁵—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or, —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, and R^(45″) is H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group or a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, m can be the same or different at each occurence and is 0, 1, 2, or
 3. 12. A compound according to claim 8, of the formula

wherein A is a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered heteroaromatic ring, containing one nitrogen atom and at least one further heteroatom selected from nitrogen, substituted nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, Ar and Ar′ are independently of each other phenyl or naphthyl, which may optionally be substituted by one or more groups selected from C₁-C₂₅alkyl which may optionally be interrupted by —O— or C₁-C₂₅alkoxy, A¹, A², A^(1′) and A^(2′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or a group

 wherein BU is

A³ and A^(3′) are independently of each other a C₆-C₂₄aryl group or a C₂-C₃₀heteroaryl group, which can optionally be substituted, or A′ and A^(1′) or A² and A^(2′) or A³ and A^(3′) together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heteroaromatic ring system

 m′ is 0, 1, or 2; R⁴¹ can be the same or different at each occurence and is Cl, F, CN, NR⁴⁵R^(45′), a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, a C₁-C₂₅alkoxy group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR⁴⁵—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, or two or more groups R⁴¹ form a ring system; R⁴⁵ and R^(45′) are independently of each other H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group, a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, in which one or more carbon atoms which are not in neighbourhood to each other could be replaced by —NR^(45″)—, —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—O—, or, —O—C(═O)—O—, and/or wherein one or more hydrogen atoms can be replaced by F, a C₆-C₂₄aryl group, or a C₆-C₂₄aryloxy group, wherein one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by O, S, or N, and/or which can be substituted by one or more non-aromatic groups R⁴¹, and R^(45″) is H, a C₁-C₂₅alkyl group or a C₄-C₁₈cycloalkyl group, m can be the same or different at each occurence and is 0, 1, 2, or
 3. 